When doctors tell a patient “It’s all in your head,” that’s medical gaslighting. Here’s how to address an issue that disproportionately impacts the health of women, LGBTQ individuals and the elderly.
When doctors tell a patient “It’s all in your head,” that’s medical gaslighting. Here’s how to address an issue that disproportionately impacts the health of women, LGBTQ individuals and the elderly.
My wife has a conversion disorder. Her NP said at the outset she thought it “was all in her head” which while a terrible choice of words she was on the right track, and she was the one that requested all the testing and specialists that eventually got us to an official diagnosis.
I understand that there is a huge problem with women and minority groups being under diagnosed and under treated especially in the US, but the blanket statement of “if your doctor says X, they’re gaslighting you” is erroneous. Sometimes it may be a well meaning person that is having a bout of bad bedside manner.